Chetham's pianists (2026)

Some of what must be Chetham's finest pianists visited Christ Church earlier today in a piano recital attended by nearly 200 music aficionados. In a programme that was unintentionally Chopin-heavy, the stand-out pieces were, to me, as follows:

By Tamara, Bach's «N.º 6 in E minor» (BWV 830), a piece played so perfectly it would please Ferruccio Busoni himself.

By Artem, Chopin's «Waltz in E minor» (B 56), a playful, perhaps even nostalgic piece which seemed to suit Artem's energetic performance.

By Aiqi, Liszt's «Sospiro», which was played in an outpouring of inspired virtuosismo; this dramatic piece demands command of several techniques, but one would never have guessed that just by watching Aiqi's performance.

Finally, from Selwyn, his opening piece, the Mazurka n.º 3, op. 67, which was a fluid, pleasing interpretation of this soft dance—a piece that showcases the expressive range of the mazurka.